The CEO of Marlow Film Studios has said the proposed development would ‘contribute to the vision’ of a long-awaited country park in the town – but not everyone agrees.

The multi-million-pound project, which would be built on Greenbelt land near the A404 Marlow bypass if given the go-ahead by Buckinghamshire Council, has been the source of local contention since the plans were first announced back in 2021.

Ahead of a decision from the local planning authority later this year, the developers have announced a raft of proposals in an effort to convince officers that the studio’s acknowledged environmental harms are outweighed by its benefits.

Their latest such effort has been to frame an 89-acre pocket of land next to and adjoining the site, earmarked for landscaping and wildlife preservation, as a ‘contribution’ towards the long-awaited Little Marlow Lakes Country Park.

The area, on land north of Spade Oak, was included in the original plans for the country park, the conception of which dates back to the 1960s.

It would comprise one-third of the total development site, with another field to the south of the 56-hectare studio block designated as a filming backlot.

Landscaping works including ponds with “living green” roofs to support insects and enhanced walking and cycling parks are among the ways developers propose to “complement the country park vision”.

Robert Laycock, CEO of the film studio project, said: “Delivering a country park at Little Marlow has been a local ambition for many decades. We’re delighted to set out how the film studio will contribute to this vision by providing 89 acres of land for public benefit, including creating and enhancing habitats, watercourse improvements and adding additional uses for access, education and community purposes.

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“Two improved ways for cyclists to cross the A404 will mean a variety of routes for bicycling and walking will be opened up, including enhancing the footpath to the north of Westhorpe Fishing Lake and along the route as it passes Spade Oak Lake heading east.

“These will be cornerstone contributions to the country park as it takes shape.”

However, a spokesperson for the oppositional campaign group Save Marlow’s Greenbelt dismissed the claim of contributing to the creation of a local country park as “simply nonsense”.

Adding: “The planning application doesn’t contain any proposals for creating a country park. Marlow Film Studios only purchased the agricultural land around Spade Oak Lake in order to meet Biodiversity Net Gain regulations.

“The application states that the fields will be turned over to grass, a few more trees planted, and a couple of benches installed.

“For them to suggest that this will create a country park is absolutely ridiculous and a sure sign of their desperation to get some local support.”

Developers also recently outlined plans for a £20m investment in local transport infrastructure and have promised that the studio would create 4,000 new jobs.